As with any medium, mostanimefans tend to gravitate toward the most popular shows running at any given time. The anime that get the most attention from fans and critics will almost always have the quality to match, and whether it’s a short series or something that goes on for years at a time, they’ll almost always dominate discussions for years, even after they ultimately end.
The most critically acclaimed anime will almost always provide someone with a good time, but it’s hardly the only way to go. Between how packed anime seasons tend to be and how hard it can be for some anime to maintain relevancy, not every anime gets the attention it deserves, and sure enough,there are plenty of anime that are almost criminally underrated, despite the otherwise stellar quality of their stories and productions. A few anime like that stand out in particular, and each one is plenty worth watching, despite the lack of attention they’ve received.
10Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya
Anime Series By Silver Link; Based On The Manga By Hiroshi Hiroyama
Silver Link’sFate/kaleid liner Prisma Illyais aFate/stay nightspinoff where Illya is a normal elementary school girl who wants nothing more than to spend time with her friends and brother. One day, though, a magic wand called Magical Ruby chooses Illya to become a magical girl and collect the Class Cards, seven magic cards embodying the spirits of historical and mythological figures, and the problems only further escalate from there.
Being a magical girl parody of the largely seriousFatefranchise, it makes sense thatPrisma Illyais often ignored in favor of more traditionalFateanime. However, as the story progresses,Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illyaevolves to have great action and incredible plotting and character writing that unironically make it one of the best anime in theFatefranchise, so it deserves far more attention than the little that’s been given to it.
Anime Series By Kyoto Animation; Based On The Visual Novel By Key
Kanon
Kanon is a 2006 anime series that follows Yuichi Aizawa, a high school student returning to a town he visited seven years ago, where he reconnects with several girls whose lives are intertwined with his forgotten past. Adapted from the visual novel by Key, Kanon explores themes of memory, emotion, and the supernatural through a dramatic and poignant narrative.
Kyoto Animation’sKanonstars Yuichi Aizawa, a cynical high schooler who comes to live with his cousin in a city he hasn’t visited in seven years. As Yuichi slowly remembers what made the city so special, he becomes involved in the lives of several girls his age, all of whom have some prior connection to him and, in many cases, an odd relation to the supernatural that only he can deal with.
While it might not have the prestige of its most immediate contemporary,Clannad,Kanonis filled with plenty of heartbreaking drama for all the characters involved, and it does so all while effortlessly combining five separate stories into a singular narrative. The comparisons toClannad, combined with its age, have causedKanonto fall into obscurity, but anyone looking for a series that captures the core aesthetic of Kyoto Animation should certainly giveKanon a try.
Aoashi
Cast
Aoashi (2022) follows Ashito Aoi, a young and talented soccer player whose dreams of becoming a professional are reignited when he is scouted by a youth team coach, Tatsuya Fukuda. Despite his raw talent, Ashito must hone his skills and adapt to the competitive world of Tokyo soccer to achieve his goal of playing on the national stage.
Production I.G’sAoashistars Ashito Aoi, a young soccer player who has a chance encounter with a legendary coach that leads to him joining Tokyo Esperion, one of the most prestigious youth teams in the country. At Esperion, Ashito has the best chance in his life of becoming a professional, but Ashito is quick to learn how that road is far more complicated than he could have imagined.
Aoashi’s great animation and character writing make it one of the best sports anime in recent years and an overall great adaptation oftheAoashimanga, but unfortunately,Aoashi, despite its initial popularity, became almost completely forgotten thanks to the incredible success ofBlue Lockin the same year.Aoashi’s anime is a far more competent adaptation in almost every regard, however, so fans and detractors ofBlue Lockalike would be remiss to pass it up.
7Carole & Tuesday
Anime Series By Bones; Directed By Shinichiro Watanabe
Bones’Carole & Tuesdaystars Carole Stanley and Tuesday Simmons, an orphan and a runaway who become friends on a terraformed Mars over their shared passion for music. With Carole on the keyboard and Tuesday on the guitar, the two become a duo with the hopes of taking Mars by storm, and despite the odds stacked against them, they just might have a shot at it.
Carole & Tuesdayexcels not just with its touching story, but with its gorgeous visuals and animation perfectly paired with one of the best soundtracks of any of Shinichiro Watanabe’s anime, yet it receives nowhere near the same attention as shows likeSamurai Champloo,Space Dandy, and especially notCowboy Bebop. Much of that can be attributed to how Netflix didn’t give it a weekly release, but anyone who’s a fan of Watanabe and music, in general, is sure to have a great time.
Lucky Star
Lucky Star is a 2007 anime series directed by Yutaka Yamamoto and based on the manga by Kagami Yoshimizu. The show centers on the everyday lives of four high school girls, each bringing their unique quirks and personalities to a series of humorous and relatable scenarios. Focusing on the mundane yet captivating aspects of daily life, Lucky Star delves into pop culture, gaming, and school experiences with a light-hearted tone.
Kyoto Animation’sLucky Starfocuses on the daily lives of Konata Izumi, a lazy otaku gamer, her friends and family, and the various people they all associate with. Most of the series is focused on the comedy of the interactions between the cast, but the anime also features a bevy of jokes and parodies of popular anime from the 90s and 2000s, most notablyThe Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.
Whether it’s through its various parodies of, and jokes about, anime, or the basic character interactions between the cast,Lucky Starnever fails to deliver excellent jokes for the viewer, no matter how out there the jokes may be. Many of the references are undoubtedly dated and won’t resonate with modern viewers, but even with that, it’s still one of thebest Kyoto Animation animeand slice-of-life anime, in general, that a person can watch.
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is a Japanese anime series adapted from Shinobu Ohtaka’s manga. Set in a fantastical world inspired by the Arabian Nights, it follows young adventurers Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana as they explore mystical labyrinths called Dungeons to uncover ancient secrets and treasures. The series delves into themes of courage, friendship, and destiny, blending action, magic, and political intrigue.
A-1 Pictures’Magi: The Labyrinth of Magictakes place in anArabian Nights-inspired world where people challenge mysterious and deadly dungeons to obtain enough wealth and power to become major players in the world overnight. Among the people challenging dungeons is the duo of Aladdin and Alibaba, and while the two of them initially just wanted to go on adventures and see the world, they soon find themselves involved in conspiracies political and magical alike that all tie into the fate of their entire universe.
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magicquickly struck a chord with fans and critics alike thanks to its engaging cast and intricate worldbuilding, and the manga is held in similarly high regard. Despite the praise, though,Magi: The Labyrinth of Magicwas unceremoniously canceledafter two seasons, and while it’s unlikely to ever return, the incredible craft put into it still makes it worth watching.
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai is an animated television series based on the iconic Dragon Quest video game franchise. It follows the young hero Dai who embarks on a journey to defeat dark forces threatening his world. With the guidance of various allies, Dai hones his skills and confronts formidable enemies. The series features a blend of action, adventure, and fantasy elements, appealing to fans of epic tales and heroic quests.
Toei Animation’sDragon Quest: The Adventure of Daibegins 10 years after the hero Avan defeated the Demon King Hadlar when the peace of the world is disrupted by the appearance of an even greater evil, the Dark King Vearn. With Avan dying in a rematch with Hadlar, the latter now subservient to Vearn, it now falls onto Avan’s apprentice, Dai, to become the new hero and save the world from evil.
Between a lack of advertising and the cliched writing,Daiwas largely ignored during its run, and it’s hard to argue with the hows and whys of it all. However,the sincerity ofDragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai’s writing, combined with having some of the best animation of any Toei Animation production, make it one of their strongest productions in years, and anyone looking for a classic fantasy story will surely get a lot out of it.
Zatch Bell!
Zatch Bell! is an anime series that follows Kiyo Takamine, a high school student, who becomes the caretaker of Zatch Bell, an amnesiac but powerful Mamodo. Partnered by a spellbook that endows Zatch with special abilities, Kiyo must compete against other Mamodos vying to become the Mamodo King. The series intricately blends themes of friendship, responsibility, and battle-driven strategy within a fantastical narrative framework.
Toei Animation’sZatch Bell!stars Kiyomaro Takamine, an arrogant genius who, one day, meets Zatch Bell, an amnesiac young boy sent to Kiyomaro by his father to help him make friends. As it turns out, though, Zatch is one of 100 demons fighting in a battle to determine the next king of the demon realm, and coincidentally, Kiyomaro is the human who has to work with Zatch and call upon his lightning magic to fight anyone who comes after them.
Zatch Bell!always stood out because of itsaction, characters, and writing that was both comedic and heartfelt, and that made it one of the best anime to watch in the 2000s, even more so than some of the more contemporary hits. The anime’s abrupt cancellation led toZatch Bell’s decline in popularity, but with the popularity of its sequel,Zatch Bell! 2, there’s plenty of hope for a revival.
Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction
Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction Part 1, released in 2024, explores the lives of high school girls Koyama Kadode and Nakagawa Ouran amidst an ongoing alien presence over Tokyo. While a war unfolds, the film delves into themes of human nature, dialogue, and adolescence, rather than focusing solely on the invasion.
Production +h.’sDead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destructiontakes place three years after a UFO suddenly appeared in the skies above Tokyo, prompting panic and scheming from citizens and politicians alike that could very much lead to the end of the world. Most of that is in the background, however, and the series is primarily focused on the daily lives of Kadode and Oran as they grapple with the realities of life.
With a lack of advertising and horrendous subtitles for its first few weeks,Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destructionreceived little attention during its run in 2024. However, not only did it feature stunning animation and visuals, butDead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction’sstrong character writing and perfect execution of political and science fiction themes made it a wonderful and thought-provoking series from start to finish, and there are fewunderrated anime of 2024that deserve more attention.
The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya centers on high school student Kyon, who inadvertently becomes involved with the eccentric Haruhi Suzumiya and her unusual club, the SOS Brigade, which seeks to find aliens, time travelers, and espers. Unbeknownst to Haruhi, she possesses the power to alter reality, leading to a series of strange and supernatural events that Kyon and the other brigade members must navigate.
Kyoto Animation’sThe Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiyastars Kyon, a sarcastic high schooler forced to join the SOS Brigade, a club made by the eccentric Haruhi Suzumiya for discovering supernatural oddities. Ironically, all the other members are the supernatural oddities Haruhi has been searching for who have gathered to observe Haruhi and her godlike powers, all of which Haruhi is kept blissfully unaware of, much to Kyon’s constant frustration.
Between its great animation and writing that always knows how to get the most out of its story,The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiyaalways excels at getting the most out of its contrasting genres and themes, resulting in a story that always manages to do something great. The series was once one of the most popular anime in the world, and that, of course, makes it even worse to call it one of themost criminally underrated anime of all time.
